<p>So, I randomly decided to take a cold timed practice test this morning. I got a 143. I never looked at the LSAT questions basically, so I did not know what I was in for. Let's just say time was such a big issue that in each section I did not get to about 10 questions, and I felt very rushed. I have always been a slow test taker, but I feel if I had more time I would have did much better. Also, my parents were home. This contributed to some noise level. Maybe I shouldn't have decided to take a practice test less than 1 week after my final exams finished? Oh dear lord, I need some advice haha. I want to prep for the September test, and I will be using Blueprint. I do not think a 170 will be possible since I have done so poorly initially. Of course people say ignore diagnostic tests and such. I wish I wasn't so nervous.</p>
<p>Yikes. If you got that because you skipped a lot of questions, the LSAT doesn’t penalize wrong answers, so it’s to your advantage to answer EVERYTHING. Just put down something, you should have picked up a good 4-5 points there (about 10% chance-conservatively-of guessing right-statistically 20-25%). It’s the mistake I made on my diagnostic…got a 143 cold. Didn’t even look at anything. I remember leaving half of one section blank.</p>
<p>As for prep, just do practice test after practice test after practice test after practice test. The LSAT tests you on the LSAT, nothing else. The best way to ace it is to know the LSAT inside out, upside down and backwards with your eyes closed. It doesn’t mean anything outside of getting into law school.</p>
<p>I skipped a lot of questions, but before the time was over I filled in B for all of them. That really didn’t help much. It got me like an extra answer choice correct doing this.</p>
<p>Oh, I thought you meant you left the answers blank.</p>
<p>I just randomly filled in Bs for the ones I did not get to. That really didn’t do anything. My family was supposed to be silent for me. Next time after I do some preparing I will take it at the library or something.</p>
<p>That score means nothing. Like you said it was your first time ever seeing the LSAT so I you shouldn’t expect a good school. I doubt if there are many people out there can just take the LSAT and score a 170 without knowing what they were getting into. A diagnostic tests is meant to introduce you to the test, especially with the LSAT because it is so different from any other test that you have probably taken. Now that you have gotten a chance to see the structure of the test you need to learn how to take it. You first mistake was not answering all the question. Unlike the SAT, the LSAT doesn’t count off for questions that you got wrong, so you should always fill in an answer if you run out of time. The biggest obstacle, that I’m sure you are aware of, is time. The only way to get over that is to take more practice test. You have to condition your brain to think fast and logically. Think of it as a marathon that you are preparing for. The first time run the marathon for practice you will probably have a horrible time. But after you condition your body and constantly do it your time will get better. My best advice to you is not to take that test that seriously. I’m sure it was a shocker when you started taking it, but that happens to every one.</p>
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Unfortunately a diagnostic score is meant to show how far you have to go.</p>
<p>OP, I wouldn’t say a 170 is out of the question, but you need to give yourself more than ample time to study. If you don’t have the time to study this summer I’d even consider delaying your app for the following cycle. Fair or not, your LSAT is directly correlated to the types of jobs you’re going to get post graduation.</p>
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<p>i don’t know that the phrase “directly correlated” is quite right. there is a relationship – lsat AND gpa will determine what law schools you get into. what law school you attend will have an effect on what job opportunities you have – but there are also other variables such that saying there’s a “direct” correlation may be a little extreme.</p>
<p>eg - a superior gpa may land you at a law school where others had higher lsats but lower gpa’s – you’ll probably have the same job opportunities as your law school classmates – those who got in with higher lsats won’t have better job opportunities unless they do better in law school – and personally i don’t think you can assume that will be directly correlated to their lsat scores.</p>
<p>another example – someone with a high gpa and high lsat may choose to go to a lower ranked school where they get a free ride rather than a higher ranked school that will land them deeply in debt. if they graduate top of their class they may have job opportunities comparable to what they’d have had if they’d chosen the higher rank, higher debt option, but that’s no guarantee. </p>
<p>job offers aren’t based on lsats – lsats just help you get the opportunity (ie by what law schools you get in to). its what you do with that opportunity – ie what law school you attend and how you do there – that will determine your job options.</p>
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Well yea.</p>
<p>Good LSAT –> Good school –> Good job
Bad LSAT –> Bad school –> Probably a bad job</p>
<p>All medium and big law firms have strict policies of whom to interview - eg an NYC firm may grant interviews to the top 80% of NYU/CLS grads, top 25% of Fordham grads, and the top 5% of Cardozo/St Johns. Therefore going to a good law school is of paramount importance if an applicant wanted to go into the private sector after graduation, and the LSAT will be the single most important factor in admissions.</p>
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Unfortunately, unless you’re URM, having a great GPA will not make up for a less-than-average LSAT score. However a great LSAT will make up for a mediocre GPA.</p>
<p>as i already explained, i thnk you are over simplifiying the concept of “directly correlated.”
there is a relationship. but it is more complicated and not completely direct.</p>
<p>by definition, any school will admit students who have lsat scores below their average. that’s how an average works. i’m not arguing about the range of variation – its just going to be a simple fact that some students will have lsat’s above the school’s average and some below. and personally, i seriously doubt there will be a “direct correlation” between the job opportunities those students will have based on their lsat scores.</p>
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There’s a very direct correlation between one’s LSAT and the rank of the school one attends. There’s also a very direct correlation between the rank of the school and the job opportunities available after graduation, so…</p>
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<p>So it is an INdirect connection.</p>
<p>
[Correlation</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation]Correlation”>Correlation - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>partial correlation – [What</a> is a partial correlation? - PsychWiki - A Collaborative Psychology Wiki](<a href=“http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/What_is_a_partial_correlation%3F]What”>http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/What_is_a_partial_correlation%3F)</p>
<p>when a third variable is involved – such as law school attended perhaps? </p>
<p>there are other factors that affect what law school some one attends – it is not simply a function of lsat – both in terms of where an applicant gets admitted and where they choose to attend – gpa, geographic location, monetary concerns, etc.</p>
<p>All very true, but a “direct correlation” has nothing to do with a “partial correlation”.</p>
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<p>This argument is stupid.</p>
<p>I already started prepping. This material really isn’t even that bad, even the games. I’m just going to need to learn to abide by the time and move faster. That part of it won’t be fun.</p>
<p>^ I agree: it is stupid. </p>
<p>Back to one of the topics, I wouldn’t even say going to a “bad” law school would give you a bad job. Honestly, with government jobs it doesn’t really matter where you go, as long as you do well. So I think the RELATIONSHIP that was described is incorrect anyway.</p>
<p>Is it really recommended to take your first LSAT cold? No prep, no prior experience, not even a condom?</p>
<p>Well always use a condom</p>
<p>The recommendation is to take your first PRACTICE LSAT cold. Certainly, you shouldn’t take the actual test without prior preparation. And definitely use a condom.</p>